Cord lock



W. J. STUBER May 17 1938.

CORD LOCK Original Filed Dec. 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1938,. w. J. STUBER 2,117,918

I com) LOCK Original Filed Dec. 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 2 jg s. Egg.

Aiqomv I Patented May 17, 1938 com) Walter J.Stuber, Pl1iladelphia, Pa., asslgnor to Carey-McFall '00., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application December a, 1935, Serial No. 52,725. Divided and this applicationJune 13, 1936, Serial No. 85,169

5 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds and particularly to a novel mechanism for .locking the slat elevating cords in position to hold the slats at any elevation to which they may be moved. 1

The object of the invention is to provide a locking device which will be highly eflicient in operation and which can be inexpensively manufactured and assembled. I 1 a This case is a division of my copending application Serial No. 52,725, filed December 3, 1985, as'regards the cord lock.

The construction and operation of the structure forming the subject of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; of which:

Fig. i is a face view of the blind structure, as seen from the inside of the room, and showing the unitary structure as being mounted within the confines of the area of the window opening, with certain portions of the casing structure broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line .22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 3--3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3, and showing the slat raising and lowering mechanism in a position ready to effect a holding of the slats in a high or intermediate position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing of the locking mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to'Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of cord lock for the slat elevating means.

, The unitary blind structure comprises a head rail I which as noted above is adapted to support and solely carry the whole of the blind structure.

Secured to the underside of the head rail l is a pair of brackets 2 and 3 respectively which support a tilting rail 4. The blind structure 5 is attached to the tilting rail 4 and, as usual, comprises a series of substantially parallel, horizontally disposed and vertically spaced slats 6, 6 of predetermined width substantially equal to or less than the vertical spacing thereof. The slats 6 are supported by and between laterally spaced ladder tapes I, l and 8, 8. The vertical elements of the ladder tapes 1, I and 8, 8 are connected by cross tapes 9 and I8 respectively which underlie the slats 8 and retain said slats in said predetermined vertically spaced relation to each other when the blind is in the fully extended or maxi mum low position shown in Figs. 1 and vii. The lower ends of the ladder tapes I, 'l and 8, 8 are connected to a bottom rail II which lies parallel to the head rail 1, the tilting rail 4 and the slats 6.

Raising and lowering of the bottom rail H and consequently the slats 6, 6, one after another, is accomplished by a pair of cords, ropes or equivalent means indicated at l2 and I3. The slatelevating elements l2 and I3 are suitably connected to the bottom rail II, as indicated at H in Fig. 2, and pass vertically through transversely extending slots I5 formed in the tilting rail 4 and in the slats 6. The cords l2 and I3 pass through suitable openings formed in the head rail I and around pulleys l6 and I! which are rotatably mounted in a longitudinally 'extend ing slot l8 formed in the upper surface of the head rail I. From the pulleys l6 and I1, the pull ropes l2 and I3 extend longitudinally through the groove I8 to a pulley I!) which is rotatably mounted in said groove adjacent the right hand end of the head rail I, as viewed in Fig. 1. From the pulley IS, the ropes or cords l2 and I3 pass through a locking device 20, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7.

The tilting rail-supporting bracket 3 forms a part of the locking device 20, said bracket comprising a horizontal flange 2| from which depends a main body portion in the form of a plate 22. At the intersection of the flange 2| and the plate 22, the bracket is provided with a T-shaped slot 23, the cross-head 24 and upper leg portion of which are formed in said flange while the lower leg portion 25 thereof is formed in the vertical plate 22.

The locking device also comprises a latch or catch 2li shown in detail in Fig. 7, and which has a cross-head 28 substantially the same width as the cross-head 24 of the T-shaped slot 23 and a body 29 bent at right angles to the plane of the head 28 and of a width substantially equal to the width of the leg 25 of the T-shaped slot 23. Spaced from the head 28,. the body 29 of the catch 26 is provided withlat'rally extending ears or lugs 30 which provide notches 3| 3| in the opposite side edges of the latch 26. The opposite end of the latch 26, from the head 28 is bent at latch is inverted from the position shown in Fig. 7 with the head 28 pointing downwardly and the body 29 extending backwardly over the flange 2| with the bent end 32 extending upwardly and the body 29 lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of the flange 2| of the bracket 3. The crosshead 28 of the catch 26 is first inserted in the cross-head 24 of the slot 23, by dropping the whole catch downwardly. By then giving the catch a slight turn forwardly the upper ends 35, 35 of the leg 25 of the T-shaped slot 23 which are located in the flange 2| pass into the notches 3|, 3| of the sides of the latch 26. The whole latch may then be swung forwardly, causing the notches 3|, 3| to slide forwardly along the flange 2|, then downwardly along the side edges 36, 36

of the leg 25 of the slot 23 until the under side 'of the body 29 of the latch rests on the bottom of the leg 25 of the slot 23. The shoulders formed by the rear edges of the ears or lugs 39, 39 on the latch then bear against the front face 31 of the bracket plate 22 and that surface of the head 28 of the latch lying adjacent the shouldered edges of the notches 3| engage the back surface 38 of the plate 22, thus preventing further forward and downward tilting of the end 32 of the latch but allowing for upward pivotal movement of the forward serrated end of the latch, the pivot being provided by the side edges 36 of the leg 25 of the slot 23 lying in the notches 3|, 3| of the latch. Surrounding the pr jecting end 32 of the latch 26 is a bridge piece 9 which is rigidly secured to the bracket plate 22. This bridge piece provides an opening between the serrated end 33 of the latch 26 and the outermost plate portion 40 of the bridge element disposed parallel to the plane of the plate 22, through which the cords I2 and I3 pass to a' position within the grasp of anyone desiring to raise or lower the blind.

Normally with the blind in the lowermost position shown in Fig. '1, the latch hangs idly in the -33 of the latch causing a gripping of the cords by said serrated edge. Then, while retaining the cords in the angular position 3; and permitting said cords to move upwardly, the latch 26 pivots in the plate 22 causing the angular end 32 with the serrated edge 33 to swing outwardly and upwardly toward the inner surface of the outer plate portion 40 of the bridge element 39, which presses said cords firmly against *the inner surface of the part 40 producing a snubbing-effect on said cords, whereby the weight of the lower rail II and that of the slats 6, 6 will prevent slipping of the cords through the bridge piece 39 thereby holding the slats at the desired elevation.

To release the cords for further operation of the slats, a slight movement downwardly with the cords in the position shown at a: will release the latch from the cords and permit the cords to slide freely through the bridge piece 39 between the serrated edge 33 of the latch and the inner surface of the bridge part 40 to raise and lower the slats at will.

In order to prevent overlapping or misplacement of the cords l2 and I3 with respect to each other at the locking point the bracket plate 22 is provided with a pin or other projection 4| which extends between said cords immediately below the bridge element 39.

From the above, it will be obvious that a highly efiicient locking structure is provided by three simple sheet metal stampings, that is, the bracket 3 with its flange 2| and depending plate 22, the latch 26 and the bridge element 39, without the use of pivot pins to provide for pivotal movement between the parts.

The bridge piece 39, as a matter of convenience in producing a rigid structure, is spotwelded to the plate 22. It will be obvious, of course, that other means of securing the bridge piece to the bracket plate may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In order to provide the pivotal or lateral tilting movement of the tilting rail 4 and slats 6, said rail in the present instance is provided at one end with a trunnion or pin 45 which, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, has bearing in an opening 44 formed in the depending end of the plate 22 of the bracket 3.

The opposite end of the tilting rail 4 is mounted on, carried by, and permanently secured to an element forming a detachable part of the tilting mechanism. In the present instance, such element comprises a plate or wheel 46 in which is secured a laterally extending trunnion stud 41,

said stud being pivotally and removably mounted in a bearing opening formed in the bracket 2 and arranged in axial alignment with the'trunnion 45 at the opposite end of the tilting rail 4. The plate 46 has a lateral extension 48, below the pivot 41, which extends under and is secured to the under surface ofthe tilting rail 4, by screws, bolts, or other suitable means.

For the purpose of tilting the rail 4 and the slats 6 to desired angles relative to the plane of the window, the plate 46 is provided with gear or worm teeth 55 throughout a segment of a circle swung from the axis of the stud 41, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The worm teeth 55 mesh with a double pitch worm 56 which is secured to one end of a shaft 69. The shaft 69 is rotatably mounted in bearings carried by the bracket 2 and is provided at its opposite end with a sheave wheel 65. A chain 61 passes around the sheave65 within an outer guard 68, with the ends of the chain depending from the opposite sides of the sheave. Pulling downwardly on either-end of the chain will effect rotation of the worm 56 and a consequent tilting of the rail 4 and the slats 6 supported thereby. v

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of cord locking means wherein the cord engaging catch or latch is reversible in a housing formed partly by the bracket 3a and partly by a bridge element 39a rigidly secured to said bracket, as by spot welding.

The latch 26a is of a modified construction and includes a front or gripping plate 29a and side wings 30a which are perforated to receive a pivot pin 3|a which is mounted in openings 25a, 25a, formed in the side walls of the housing element 39a.

The front plate 29a of the latch 26a is serrated at its lower edge to provide gripping teeth33a thereon and is grooved or transversely toothed as indicated at 3311 above said serrated edge to, assist in the grasping and gripping of the slatelevating cords l2 and I3 to press said cords into snubbing engagement with either the front wall 40a of the housing 39a or the bracket 3a forming the rear wall of the housing.

A cord separating and guiding pin Ha is mounted in and extends from the front plate 40a to the bracket 3a which forms the rear plate of the housing which includes the element 39a.

The side plates of the housing element 39a are provided with a second pair of openings 25b for receiving the pivot pin 3la of the latch 26a, whereby the latch may be reversed in the housing and arranged to snub the operating cords l2 and 13 against the rear wall 40b of the housing when desired or when deemed necessary as a result of the location of the blind with respect to the side walls or other obstructions adjacent the side of the window at which the operating mechanism of the blind is located and which would make it more convenient to swing the cords l2 and I3 to the left in some instances and to the right in other instances to contact the cords with the gripping serrations of the latch 26a.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bracket comprising a flat main portion and a flange portion substantially at right angles thereto with a substantially T- shaped slot formed therein, and a catch comprising a head portion arranged to pass through the upper part of said T-shaped slot to engage one face of said main portion of the bracket and laterally projecting shoulders arranged to en-. gage the opposite face of said bracket main portion.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bracket comprising a flat main portion and a flange extending substantially at right angles thereto and having a substantially T-shaped slot formed with the cross part and upper portion of the leg part of the slot formed in said flange and the lower part of the leg of the T-slot formed in said main portion, and a catch comprising a head. portion arranged to pass through the cross part of said slot to engage one face of the main portion of the bracket and a body portion extending from said head portion and provided with laterally projecting shoulders adjacent said head portion arranged to engage the opposite face of said bracket main portion.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bracket comprising a flat main portion and a flange extending substantially at right angles thereto and having a substantially T-shaped slot formed with the cross part and upper portion of the leg part of the slot formed in said flange and the lower part of the leg of the T-slot formed in said main portion, a catch comprising a head portion arranged to pass through the cross part of said slot to engage .one face of the main portion of the bracket and a body portion extending from said head portion and provided with laterally projecting shoulders adjacent said head portion arranged to engage the opposite face of said bracket main portion, and a bridge element carried by said bracket main portion and extending laterally therefrom around the body portion of the catch as and for the purpose described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bracket comprising a flat main portion and a flange extending substantially at right angles thereto and having a substantially T-shaped slot formed with the cross part and upper portion of the leg part of the slot formed in said flange and the lower part of the leg of the T-slot formed in said main portion, a catch comprising a head portion arranged to pass through the cross part of said slot to engage one face of .the main portion of the bracket and a body portion extending from said head portion and provided with laterally projecting shoulders adjacent said head portion arranged to engage the opposite face of said bracket main portion, a bridge element carried by said bracket main portion and extending laterally therefrom around the body portion of the catch and a pin projecting laterally from said bracket main portion below and centrally disposed with respect to the bridge element and the projecting end of the catch as and for the purpose described.

5; A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a substantially rectangular housing open at its opposite ends respectively, a pull rope passing through said housing, a reversible latch extending transversely of the housing and pivoted therein adjacent one of the side walls thereof and provided with a rope-gripping surface adjacent its free end for snubbing said rope against the opposite side wall thereof arranged to be reversed in said housing for snubbing said rope against the flrst said side wall of the housing. said housing having openings adjacent said opposite side walls for interchangeably receiving the pivot of said latch.

WALTER J. STUBER. 

